Nestlé Purina has teamed up with Urban Resource Institute in support of URIPALS, New York City's first initiative to allow victims of domestic violence to enter shelters with their pets. Purina is donating welcome kits and educational materials for families entering URI's largest domestic-violence shelter.

Currently in its six-month pilot phase, URIPALS is accepting families with cats and smaller animals into its shelter, and it hopes to expand the program to include dogs in December.

Purina's welcome kits during this phase of the program will be tailored to cats, including cat food, toys, crates and other accessories. The company is also donating a year's supply of food and litter to families upon leaving the shelter. Families will also receive educational materials designed to guide them in best practices in caring for their pets.

"We are proud to support the Urban Resource Institute in its mission to provide comfort to victims of domestic abuse and their pets," said Michael Kotick, senior brand manager at Purina. "At Purina, we believe people and pets are better together, and the strong bond between pet owners and their pets can prove beneficial no matter what the circumstances."